Lightweight fork assembly

Abstract

A fork for a vehicle, the fork including: a set of first tubes; and a set of second tubes telescopically positioned within the set of first tubes, wherein at least one first tube of the set of first tubes comprises a recess configured for receiving at least a portion of a disc brake assembly.

What we claim is: 
     
         1 . A fork for a vehicle, said fork comprising:
 a set of first tubes; and   a set of second tubes telescopically positioned within said set of first tubes, wherein at least one first tube of said set of first tubes comprises a recess configured for receiving at least a portion of a disc brake assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The fork of  claim 1 , wherein said first tube of said at least one first tube comprises:
 a first portion; and   a second portion that comprises said recess, wherein said first portion comprises a first circumference, and said second portion comprises a second circumference, wherein said first circumference is greater than said second circumference.   
     
     
         3 . The fork of  claim 1 , wherein said first tube of said at least one first tube comprises:
 a first portion; and   a second portion that comprises said recess, wherein said first portion comprises a first circumference, and said second portion comprises a second circumference, wherein said first circumference is less than said second circumference.   
     
     
         4 . The fork of  claim 1 , wherein said first tube of said at least one first tube comprises:
 a first portion; and   a second portion that comprises said recess, wherein said first portion comprises a first circumference, and said second portion comprises a second circumference, wherein said first circumference is equal to said second circumference.   
     
     
         5 . The fork of  claim 1 , wherein said first tube of said at least one first tube comprises:
 a first portion; and   a second portion that comprises said recess, wherein a circumference of said first portion varies throughout said first portion and a circumference of said second portion varies throughout said second portion.   
     
     
         6 . The fork of  claim 1 , wherein said first tube of said at least one first tube comprises:
 a first portion; and   a second portion that comprises said recess, wherein said first portion comprises a material that is different from said second portion.   
     
     
         7 . The fork of  claim 1 , wherein said portion of said disc brake assembly comprises:
 a disc brake rotor.   
     
     
         8 . The fork of  claim 1 , further comprises:
 a stopper element disposed adjacent to an upper portion of said recess and interior to a first leg tube of said at least one first leg tube, wherein, during compression of said fork, said stopper element restricts a portion of a piston assembly from entering an area within said first leg tube that is adjacent to said recess.   
     
     
         9 . A fork assembly comprising:
 a fork crown comprising:
 a first receiving end configured for receiving a first end of a first upper leg tube of a set of upper leg tubes; and 
 a second receiving end configured for receiving a second end of a second upper leg tube of said set of upper leg tubes; 
   a fork leg assembly comprising:
 a set of lower leg tubes; and 
 said set of upper leg tubes telescopically positioned within said set of lower leg tubes; 
   a wheel hub removably attached to said set of lower leg tubes,   wherein a distance from said first receiving end and said second receiving end of said fork crown is proportionally sized according to a smallest width between outer surfaces of walls of said set of lower leg tubes, wherein said smallest width does not include an area there between in which a portion of a disc brake assembly is disposed, wherein said portion of said disc brake assembly is coupled with said wheel hub.   
     
     
         10 . The lightweight fork assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said portion of said disc brake assembly comprises:
 a disc brake rotor.   
     
     
         11 . The fork assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a distance between said outer walls of said set of lower leg tubes at which there is a largest width, wherein said largest width is greater than said smallest width, and said largest width includes a set of recesses disposed in at least one lower leg tube of said set of lower leg tubes.   
     
     
         12 . The fork assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said set of recesses comprises:
 one or more recesses.   
     
     
         13 . A component of a fork assembly for a vehicle, said component comprising:
 at least one lower leg tube of a set of lower leg tubes configured for telescopically receiving at least one upper leg tube of a set of upper leg tubes, wherein said at least one lower leg tube comprises a recess configured for receiving at least a portion of a disc brake assembly.   
     
     
         14 . The component of  claim 13 , wherein said recess is large enough to fully receive said at least a portion of said disc brake assembly such that since all of said at least a portion of said disc brake assembly is received in said recess, a width between said set of said lower leg tubes does not accommodate a presence of said at least a portion of said disc brake assembly. 
     
     
         15 . A fork for a vehicle, said fork comprising:
 a set of first tubes; and   a set of second tubes telescopically positioned within said set of first tubes, wherein at least one first tube of said set of first tubes comprises a recess configured for increasing the distance between said set of first tubes.   
     
     
         16 . The fork of  claim 15 , wherein said first tube of said at least one first tube comprises:
 a first portion; and   a second portion that comprises said recess, wherein said first portion comprises a first circumference, and said second portion comprises a second circumference, wherein said first circumference is greater than said second circumference.   
     
     
         17 . The fork of  claim 15 , wherein said first tube of said at least one first tube comprises:
 a first portion; and   a second portion that comprises said recess, wherein said first portion comprises a first circumference, and said second portion comprises a second circumference, wherein said first circumference is less than said second circumference.   
     
     
         18 . The fork of  claim 15 , wherein said first tube of said at least one first tube comprises:
 a first portion; and   a second portion that comprises said recess, wherein said first portion comprises a first circumference, and said second portion comprises a second circumference, wherein said first circumference is equal to said second circumference.   
     
     
         19 . The fork of  claim 15 , wherein said first tube of said at least one first tube comprises:
 a first portion; and   a second portion that comprises said recess, wherein a circumference of said first portion varies throughout said first portion and a circumference of said second portion varies throughout said second portion.   
     
     
         20 . The fork of  claim 15 , wherein said first tube of said at least one first tube comprises:
 a first portion; and   a second portion that comprises said recess, wherein said first portion comprises a material that is different from said second portion.   
     
     
         21 . The fork of  claim 15 , further comprises:
 a stopper element disposed adjacent to an upper portion of said recess and interior to a first leg tube of said at least one first leg tube, wherein, during compression of said fork, said stopper element restricts a portion of a piston assembly from entering an area within said first leg tube that is adjacent to said recess.